The Maned Wolf has often been described as "a Red Fox on stilts" because of its overall appearance, though it is much larger than a Red Fox. The adult animal stands about 1 m 3.3 ft tall when measured at the shoulder, and weighs 44 to 55 lb. The maned wolf is the tallest of the wild wolfs. The long legs are probably an adaptation to the tall grasslands of its native habitat. The fur of the Maned Wolf may be reddish brown to golden orange on the sides with long, black legs and a distinctive black mane. The coat is also marked with a whitish tip of the tail and a white line beneath the throat.
C. E. H. Smith, 1839
The Maned Wolf has often been described as "a Red Fox on stilts" because of its overall appearance, though it is much larger than a Red Fox. The adult animal stands about 1 m 3.3 ft tall when measured at the shoulder, and weighs 44 to 55 lb. The maned wolf is the tallest of the wild wolfs. The long legs are probably an adaptation to the tall grasslands of its native habitat. The fur of the Maned Wolf may be reddish brown to golden orange on the sides with long, black legs and a distinctive black mane. The coat is also marked with a whitish tip of the tail and a white line beneath the throat.